Why is my cpu running at 2.7 ghz when it has a 2.4 ghz and is that bad for my cpu?

[xnabilhasanx]

Hi, I recently bought a dell xps 15z with i5 2430m 2.4 ghz processor. I know it has turbo which I think lets the cpu overclock itself all the way up to 3.0 ghz. I was looking up stuff about cpu temperature and what not and so I downloaded realtemp which showed me that the cpu is running at 2.7ghz. After doing some reading online I still don't have a clear answer so I decided to ask more knowledgeable people and here are my questions:

I assume the standard frequency for this cpu is 2.4 ghz but why is it always at 2.7 ghz when the only thing I am running is chrome?

Is the 2.7 ghz like a total from both cores running together or is it just like the cpu average or what? for instance if 1 core ran at 1 ghz and another at 700 mhz that's understandable.

when they say the cpu speed is 2.4 ghz they mean both cores can reach 2.4 ghz or is it that both cores can reach 1200 mhz for a total of 2.4 ghz. this website says the max speed is 2.7 with turbo both cores active but 3 ghz for 1 core active. So does that mean both cores running each can reach 2.7 ghz and when only 1 core is running it can go up to 3 ghz? so technically if both cores ran at 2.7 that's 5.4 ghz of work?

I did notice that when I messed around with the power settings such as balanced or power saver or maximum power. the frequencies changed. When I did power saver the cpu frequency stayed at 798 mhz, max power the cpu stayed at 2.7-3 ghz and balanced is what is recommended so that's what I always use but I don't know if I should be worried that the cpu is always running at 2.7 ghz which I assume is with turbo on.

Sorry I know I am asking a lot of questions, it's just being a college student, I had to work my entire winter break to save up for this laptop and I just want to take care of it because I probably wont be able to get another 1 for a while so excuse me. and I really appreciate any answer at all. thanks!

 

[Gaidax]

It's fine, don't over-think things.

Turbo works always as long as CPU temperature and other parameters allow for it, meaning your CPU will always be passively overclocked, unless there is a heat issue or you are in power conservation mode, in which case it will drop down to 2.4 base.

All good.

 

[bootcher]

First of all you're fine, the CPU can run at 2.7 ghz (both cores) or 3ghz (1 core) frequency no problem.
The frequencies don't add up, it always runs at a certain frequency. To save power it can clock itself back to 800 MHz but can go up to 3ghz of needed. When going above 2.7 GHz it will disable one core to avoid overheating.
The power profiles determine how the system will let the cpu run. Power saving well let the CPU clock back to low frequencies to save power, max power well set the cpu at 2.7ghz no matter what your system is doing.

 

[xnabilhasanx]

First of all you're fine, the CPU can run at 2.7 ghz (both cores) or 3ghz (1 core) frequency no problem.
The frequencies don't add up, it always runs at a certain frequency. To save power it can clock itself back to 800 MHz but can go up to 3ghz of needed. When going above 2.7 GHz it will disable one core to avoid overheating.
The power profiles determine how the system will let the cpu run. Power saving well let the CPU clock back to low frequencies to save power, max power well set the cpu at 2.7ghz no matter what your system is doing.

Since frequencies don't add up it's absurd that the cpu is running past it's normal 2.4 ghz when i am only running chrome. So Is it just running 1 core at 2.7 ghz or is it running both but switches between the cores and only uses 1 core to get to 3ghz when needed? what's the point of using 1 cpu to get to 3 ghz wouldn't 2 at 2.7 ghz be more efficient and faster? I guess apps that down allow 2 cores to run at once would be better with 1 core at 3 ghz.. Thanks for your reply.

 

[V1ctor89]

When running on turbo boost, the CPU is incrementally raising the 1st core's frequency while sacrificing the other core's power in order to rely on the power provided by a single thread that is conducting a certain process at a given time. So it will give more power to the first core while decreasing the 2nd core so the 1st core will execute the processes in queue more quickly. Keep in mind that each core has 2 threads so it's even better to manage the processes.

All in all: Don't worry about the core usage or the temperatures. The CPU was designed in such way that it can manage this kind of load within optimal parameters.

 

[bootcher]

If you set the power profile to maximum performance it well always clock at max speed no matter what programs are running. Set the power profile to basic/balanced to let the CPU run at the 'normal' 2.4ghz. If needed it will automatically clock up to a higher frequency.

 

[xnabilhasanx]

sorry last question: so how are computer frequencies determined? I have a 2.4 ghz and i get that the turbo part and how it can get up to 3 ghz but when they say the computer is 2.4 ghz is that it's 2.4 ghz per core or that's just how many ticks it can get per second max whether both cores working or not cause if ideally both cores are working at say 2.4 ghz at the same time that's like 4.8 ghz?

You guys have been very helpful I am just a really curious person who likes learning this kind of stuff instead of studying for my math exam haha

 

[V1ctor89]

No, that's not how you calculate the CPU's computing power. Let's say you have a dual-core 2,0ghz, no turbo, no HTT. Each core works at 2,0ghz max at full load (taking into consideration that the speed-step technology lowers the multiplier to minimum when idle, thus reducing the frequency to the minimum). 2,0 ghz means 2 billion cycles (operations) per second. BUT, the CPU as a whole does not work at 4,0ghz. You can only say that each core tops at 2,0ghz.

Now, the same thing applies with 4+ cores CPUs. A quad-core at 2,0ghz does not have a full 8ghz as a whole, because it is incorrect to add up the frequencies. I hope this is clear.